MACROSS 7
MECHA
VF-11 THUNDERBOLT
Classification: Tactical Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: Shinsei Industries
Crew: One pilot
Weight: 9000 kg
Coloring: White
PILOTS
Macross 7 Defense Forces
VF-11A (First manufactured version. Initially equipped with a shorter barrel on the anti-aircraft laser and a dual-visor sensor system in the head)
VF-11B( Standard UN Spacy version, circa 2040. Lengthened barrel on the head anti-aircraft laser and redesigned single-visor sensor system)
VF-11C (Upgraded version of the VF-11B, featuring enhanced communication/navigation systems. Fleet-wide upgrade of all VF-11B fighters to VF-11C versions began in 2040)
VF-11D ( Two-seater version for training and recon operations)
VF-11D (Custom Version, Jamming Birds)
VF-11MAXL-Kai (Custom Version, Sound Force)
VF-11 Full Armor (Heavy armor variant of VF-11A, B, C, or D)
BACKGROUND
The VF-11 Thunderbolt is the standard tactical variable fighter for the UN Spacy forces as of 2040. The mecha is a direct descendant of the original VF-1 Valkyrie and has several design similarities to the now-antique fighter, including variable soldier and gerwalk modes, a head laser external gun pod, and optional add-on boosters for increased range and maneuverability.
The VF-11 replaced the older VF-4 Lightning III as the UN Spacy's main combat mecha in 2030, and has been in service now for almost a decade. Thunderbolts are found all over human-colonized space, on long-distance colony ships, colonized planets, and deep space military forces. The design is starting to become outdated, however, and is scheduled to be replaced by the VF-19 Excalibur, the winning design of the Project Super Nova competition. However, due to the large numbers of Thunderbolts stationed all across the galaxy it will probably be several years yet before the VF-19 can be produced in sufficient numbers to retire the VF-11 from service.
There is one interesting footnote in the development of the Thunderbolt. During the early tests of the prototype VF-11s the addition of the forward canard wings was a subject of great debate with the engineers and test supervisors. Although the canards provided increased maneuverability for the fighter, they also created additional aerodynamic drag which lowered the top speed of the variable fighter in a planetary atmosphere. Despite the drawbacks many of the test pilots were in favor of the canard wing, including Captain Milia Jenius of the Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center, who was involved in testing of the final VF-11 prototypes. The event which clinched the decision to include the canard wings eventually came when Captain Jenius piloted the VFX-11 prototype on a rescue mission to save a UN chief advisor. The successful rescue of the individual and the data collected from the prototype during the rescue operation led to the decision to include the canard wing on the VF-11, as well as later VFs designed by Shinshi Inudstries.
HEIGHT
41.34 ft (12.92 m) in battroid configuration
22.05 ft (6.89 m) in gerwalk configuration
15.39 ft (4.81 m) in fighter configuration
WIDTH
17.46 ft (5.45 m) at shoulders in battroid configuration
35.84 ft (11.20 m) in gerwalk or fighter configuration with wings at maximum extension
LENGTH
11.17 ft (3.49 m) in soldier configuration
28.54 ft (8.92 m) in gerwalk configuration
49.63 ft (15.51 m) in fighter configuration
SPEEDS
- RUNNING, BATTROID MODE: 90 mph (144 kmph)
- LEAPING, BATTROID MODE: 30 ft (9 m) high or 50 ft (15.2 m) long without thrusters
- HOVER, BATTROID MODE: 300 mph (480 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely
- FLYING, GERWALK MODE: Mach One (670 mph/1072 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely
- FLYING, FIGHTER MODE: Mach 3.5+ (2345 mph/3752 kmph) max speed at 10,000 meters or less above sea level. Mach 8.2+ (5494 mph/8790 kmph) max speed at 10,000-42,000 meters above sea level. Max altitude of 42,000 meters without rocket booster assistance. Maximum rate of ascent is 28,500 meters/minute. G limits are +22 to -14.5 standard Earth gravities
- MAX ENGINE THRUST: 28,000 kg x2 from main engines, plus 10,000 kg x4 from optional super booster units or 120,000 kg x2 from optional solid-fuel rocket boosters
ENGINES
- Two Shinsei Industries/Pratt & Whitney/Rolls Royce FF-2025G thermonuclear turbine engines
- Additional Pratt & Whitney HMM- 5B high-maneuverability vernier thrusters for additional mobility are mounted at key positions along the mecha's hull
- Additional thruster options include paired super booster units and added propellant storage or dual solid-fuel rocket boosters
SHIELDS
- ANTI-PROJECTILE SHIELD: A new addition to modern VFs, the VF-11 is equipped with an external shield that is mounted on the central rear dorsal section of the mecha in fighter mode, and on the left arm in soldier and gerwalk modes. On a successful parry in soldier or gerwalk mode, the shield can be used to block missiles or projectiles, thus protecting the main body from harm. Although constructed of super-strong materials, the shield is NOT regenerable and must be ejected once its MDC is depleted.
- HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life threatening heat and radiation. A radiation detection and alarm system are linked with the shields and will sound an alarm if there is a rupture in the shields and what the levels of radiation are.
OPTICS:
- INFRARED: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye, but detectable by the mecha's sensors. The system allows the pilot to detect hidden/concealed objects by their IR reflectiveness. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however.
- NIGHTVISION: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive light image intensifier that emits no light of its own, but relies on ambient light which is electronically amplified to produce a visible picture.
- THERMAL IMAGER: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive optical heat sensor that detects infrared radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into a false-color visible image. The system enables the pilot to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke.
COMMUNICATIONS
- RADAR: 200 mile (321 km) range.
- RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 600 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
- EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: Range: 300 ft (91.5 m). A sound amplification system that can pick up normal conversation up to 300 feet away.
- LOUDSPEAKER: A loudspeaker system is built into the craft, which can be used to amplify the pilot's voice up to 90 decibels.
- COMBAT COMPUTER WITH HEADS-UP-DISPLAY: The VF-11 is equipped with a combat computer that can store and analyze data during combat with hostile forces. The entire cockpit canopy of the VF-11 is a large HUD display, which allows the computer to display large amounts of data to the pilot and even highlight enemies and missile attacks with overlaid graphics. The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets, and has a database of over 10,000 images stored in memory. The computer can identify and track up to 250 targets simultaneously.
- LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets.
- ANTI-AIRCRAFT PULSE LASER: The VF-11 mounts a single pulse laser for use in air combat skirmishes and for defensive purposes. The laser is mounted on the head of the mecha in soldier mode, and is located in the central dorsal section of the main body pointed rearward in fighter and gerwalk modes. The laser can only fire to the REAR of the fighter in these modes; it cannot be turned to fire along another arc.
· PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-aircraft
· SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile/defensive
· RANGE: 4000 feet (1200 m)
· RATE OF FIRE: The laser can be fired in rapid pulses up to 4 blasts per round
· PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited - MULTIPURPOSE GUN POD W/ANTI-ARMOR BAYONET: A gun pod similar to the old GU-11 used by the VF-1 Valkyries, this is the primary weapon of the VF-11. The new gun pod also features a mecha-sized bayonet mounted on the front of the weapon, for use in close combat with mechanized opponents.
· PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
· SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
· RANGE: 4000 feet (1200 m)
· RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the number of combined attacks of the pilot
· PAYLOAD: 400 rounds per clip equals 40 short bursts, 20 long bursts, or 10 full melee bursts. Two spare clips are stored behind the anti-projectile shield - WING HARD POINTS: Two fixed hard points are mounted on each wing of the VF-11 for a total of 4 hardpoints on the fighter. These hardpoints can be used to hold a variety of different ordinance types, including long, medium, or short range missiles, or even the new medium-range high-maneuverability (MRHM) missiles (after 2040). One long range, one MRHM, 3 medium range, or 5 short range missiles can be mounted per hardpoint. Due to the location of the hard points, ALL missiles must be fired or ejected before the VF-11 can convert into battroid mode. For this reason the hard point missiles are usually fired within the first few passes of an attack.
OTHER STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE VF-11:
- TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The VF-11's cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The UN Spacy flight suit also contains an upper and lower g-suit that promotes blood circulation even during high-g turns, thus decreasing the possibility of pilot's blacking out in combat.
- AUTO-PILOT: The VF-11 is equipped with a computerized auto-pilot, allowing the pilot to relax or even sleep during long voyages. The auto- pilot can be programmed with a single destination or a complex flight plan involving multiple speeds, directions, and destinations. The onboard computer will alert the pilot when the fighter is near its destination, and can also be set to automatically signal when sensors detect objects near the mecha. The auto-pilot was designed with long intra-system space journeys in mind
- ESCAPE POD: The entire reinforced cockpit of the VF-11 is a detachable escape pod that can be jettisoned when the mecha is destroyed. The ejected cockpit does not contain thrusters, but does contain a powerful locator beacon and an integrated life support system that can support the pilot for up to 24 hours after ejection. The pod is also equipped with parachutes in case of ejection in an atmosphere. The combat computer is programmed to automatically eject the escape pod if the mecha is destroyed, but this can be overridden.
- HOMING SIGNAL: The escape pod of the VF-11 is equipped with a homing device that enables rescue teams to locate a disabled craft or ejected life pod. The range of the signal is 400 miles (640 km). Most UN Spacy ships and variable fighters can locate and track homing signals, and the onboard computers will automatically notify their pilots if such a signal is detected.
- SELF-DESTRUCT: To prevent capture of a variable fighter by the enemy, the pilot can activate the VF-11's self-destruct system, which will cause the fighter to explode after a delay of up to 60 minutes (time is set by the pilot). The explosive damage is contained within a 20 foot (6 m). All internal systems are obliterated. The escape pod will be automatically ejected prior to the explosion unless the pilot overrides the ejection sequence.
- STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT: All UN Spacy variable fighters come equipped with a portable survival kit. Inside the small reinforced box is a medium-sized flashlight, two hand flares, one rocket flare, a compass, infrared distancing binoculars, a small mirror, a pocket knife, dehydrated and concentrated food (can be stretched into a five day supply for one person) and basic first aid items (aspirin, bandages, disinfectants, etc.)